Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I'll come and gang by Carterhaugh



I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your hair
To travel to Carter Hall for young Tam Lin is there

None that go by Carter Hall but they leave him a pledge
Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead"

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she

She'd not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two
When up there came young Tam Lin says "Lady, pull no more"

"And why come you to Carter Hall without command from me?"
"I'll come and go", young Janet said, "and ask no leave of thee"

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to her father as fast as go can she

Well, up then spoke her father dear and he spoke meek and mild
"Oh, and alas, Janet," he said, "I think you go with child"

"Well, if that be so," Janet said, "myself shall bear the blame
There's not a knight in all your hall shall get the baby's name

For if my love were an earthly knight as he is an elfin grey
I'd not change my own true love for any knight you have"

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she

"Oh, tell to me, Tam Lin," she said, "why came you here to dwell?"
"The Queen of Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell

And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to hell
I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself

But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faery folk ride
Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must buy

So first let past the horses black and then let past the brown
Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down

For I'll ride on the white steed, the nearest to the town
For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown

Oh, they will turn me in your arms to a newt or a snake
But hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby's father

And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold
But hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child

And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight
But cloak me in your mantle and keep me out of sight."

In the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring
She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win

Then up spoke the Faery Queen, an angry queen was she
Woe betide her ?ill-fought? face, an ill death may she die

"Oh, had I known, Tam Lin," she said, "what this knight I did see
I have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree."

The second-to-last verse contains the Faerie Queen's description of Janet's "ill-far'd face." This seems to have been preserved from the Child Ballad when so much else was jettisoned or adapted.

For instance, the Queen goes on to proclaim that "I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een, / And put in twa een o tree" had she known Tam Lin was angling on escaping her grasp.

This is the Faerie Queen much closer to that of Terry Pratchett than of any Victorian idyllist.

There was a recent discussion on Making Light about whether or not the demigods of the imagination which may thrive on our belief might be conscious of the stories we tell of them now*; I wonder if the Faerie Queen seethes every time I play this song.

*Begun by Abi Sutherland wondering if the ur-Harpy remembers Mommy Fortuna and that wild night she escaped her cage.

(I guess this is all really an exercise in a collective-universe flight of fancy.)

Zappadan: Day Zero

I haven't been honoring Zappadan this year; by the end of the tradition last year I was having trouble finding songs I hadn't posted and I couldn't think of a follow-up this year.

But I will call this out: the Official Zappadan Cupcakes.

For some reason I think I'll pass.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Is *That* What They Call It These Days



One morning in the month of June,
As from my cot' I strayed.
Just at the dawning of the day
I met with a charming maid.
'Good morning you, whither?' said I,
'Good morning to you now',
The maid replied, 'kind sir' she cried,
'I've lost my spotted cow'.
'No longer weep, no longer mourn,
Your cow's not lost my dear,
I saw her down in yonder grove,
Come love and I'll show you where'.
'I must confess you're very kind,
I thank you sir,' said she,
'We will be sure her there to find,
Come sweetheart, go with me'.
And in the grove they spent the day,
They thought it passed too soon,
At night they homeward bent their way,
While brightly shone the moon.
If he should cross the flowery dale,
Or go to view the plough,
She comes and calls, 'You gentle swain,
I've lost my spotted cow

Friday, December 18, 2009

Oh Dear

Don't let this in your house! That's the first step in their plan!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Preview Panel


A sneak peek at a (very rough) preliminary version of a thing I'm doing with me mum.

Warning: I suck at the digital art right now. It will improve! but this is basically my first try.

Monday, December 14, 2009

I Have Obtained A Thing



Oh yeah, nothing's going to stop me from rocking your world with my fabulous digital art skills.



Oh yeah, I just rocked your world!